WhatsApp is the main communication application among Brazilians. Through it, it is possible to contact friends, family, and even make sales and solve work issues. And because of its importance, the app and its content are highly targeted by criminals.
In short, hackers can hijack your WhatsApp account and gain access to personal messages and contact list as well. In view of this, it is essential to understand how hackers work, and how you can protect your account.
In the face of this, check out all the details below, and learn, once and for all, how you can protect your account and data, without falling into scams.
Can WhatsApp be hacked?
WhatsApp owned by Meta is end-to-end encrypted and messages are stored on your device, so that someone else accessing your account on another device cannot read your previous conversations.
However, if you suspect that someone else is using your WhatsApp account, you must notify your family and friends, as this person may impersonate you in chats and groups.
In general, criminals usually hack WhatsApp with the help of the victim. that’s right. They impersonate a bank employee, cell phone operator, for example, and request a WhatsApp SMS verification code, so they can hack your app for good.
In addition, those who have the two-step confirmation activated in WhatsApp may receive an email requesting the reset of the registration, through a link. Or the verification PIN. In short, these are extremely sensitive tactics and information, which, if passed on, might compromise the security of user data.
How to protect your WhatsApp account?
If you want to protect your account, follow these tips:
- Never share the 6-digit registration code you received via SMS with others;
- Don’t click WhatsApp code reset email link, which you didn’t ask for;
- Turn on two-step verification: open WhatsApp > Settings > Account > Two-Step Confirmation;
- Create a PIN and provide an email address in case you forget your PIN.
How to protect WhatsApp data?
Below, check out tips on how to protect your WhatsApp data:
- Allow only your contacts to see your profile picture:
- tap on Settings > Privacy > Profile Picture and select My contacts;
- Be careful with messages that ask you for money;
- Always call your contact in question to confirm your identity before making any money transfers.
How to recover WhatsApp account?
Log into WhatsApp with your mobile number and verify by entering the 6-digit code you receive via SMS. Enter the 6-digit SMS code and the person using your WhatsApp account will be automatically logged out.
You will also be asked to provide a two-step verification code. If you don’t know the verification code, the person using your WhatsApp account may have 2-Step Verification turned on.
In this case, you have to wait seven days before you can sign in without the two-step verification code. Note that the person using your WhatsApp account was logged out when you entered the 6-digit SMS code.
If you suspect that someone is using your account through WhatsApp Web / Desktop, it is recommended to disconnect WhatsApp from all computers. To protect your account, WhatsApp will notify you when someone tries to register a WhatsApp account with your mobile number.
I received a verification code from WhatsApp without asking; what to do?
To protect your account, WhatsApp sends you a push notification when someone tries to register a WhatsApp account with your mobile number. To keep your account safe, never share your verification code with anyone.
When you receive this notification, it means someone entered your phone number and asked for your registration code. This happens if another WhatsApp user mistyped your number when trying to enter their own number to register, and it can also happen when someone tries to take over your WhatsApp account.
If someone is trying to take over your WhatsApp account, they will need the SMS verification code sent to your phone number. Without this code, any user trying to verify your number will not be able to complete the verification process and use your phone number on WhatsApp. Thus, your WhatsApp account remains safe and secure.
